Means for cooling mandrel bars



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a, if e w 0 Z m w v v MSW 2. ,MV. N E &\ M E w w Feb. 29, 1944. H. OTTINGER MEANS FOR COOLING MANDREL BARS Filed Oct. 17, 1941 i j n m v mwm mm M Feb. 29, 1944. OTTINGER 2,343,023

MEANS FOR COOLING MANDREL BARS Filed Oct. 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mqeer OTT/NGEB, 5

Patented Feb 29, 1944 MEANS FOR COOLING MANDR-EL BARS Harry Ottinger, McKeesport, Pa., assignor to National Tube Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application October 17, 1941, Serial No. 415,483

(Cl. 8(ll3) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to rotating mandrel bars and, particularly, to an improved means for cooling the same.

Various means and devices have been suggested and used for introducing a cooling fluid into rotating mandrel bars and the like for the purpose of maintaining the same at a relatively cool temperature during the use thereof. Such means or devices usually employ a fluid conveying pipe for introducing Water as the cooling agent into the mandrel bars. It is necessary that these pipes be replaced from time to time, due to the wear and corrosion thereof, so it is important that they be assembled therein in a most convenient manner to thus expedite the replacement thereof. A number of different ways have been used for assembling such cooling pipes therein, but most of them have been impractical and expensive and too much time was required for thei replacement; also, these pipes, in most cases, were subjected to excessive wear, due to the manner in which they were assembled therein, necessitating, of course, quite frequent replacements, which was inconvenient as well as expensive.

Furthermore, where the cooling pipe is as sembled in a rotating mandrel and adapted to rotate therewith, there is usually provided a stuffing box Or similar means for housing the inner end of the cooling pipe whereby the cooling fluid is supplied to the cooling pipe to be conveyed to the interior of the mandrel bar. It will be understood that the piercing and reeling apparatus used in the manufacture of pipe and the like is subject to extremely heavy loads and '1 severe stresses. In such apparatus the thrust block and mandrel bar travel back and forth quite rapidly and the mandrel bar and supporting spindle rotate under load and, While under such axial load, are subject to deflection. As a result the axial alignment between the stuffing box and the rotating spindle is difficult to maintain, thereby oftentimes resulting in a rupture or breakage of the cooling pipe or the pipe supporting means between the stuffing box and the spindle, which, of course, is unsatisfactory and disadvantageous.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved means for assembling and supporting a cooling fluid pipe within a rotating mandrel bar whereby the above named disadvantages are eliminated.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved means for assembling and supporting a cooling pipe within a rotating mandrel bar so that the cooling pipe rotates therewith and, at the same time, permits the cooling pipe to move relative to the mandrel bar, thereby eliminating the danger of bending or the breakage of the cooling pipe and pipe supporting member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a'yieldable means for supporting the cooling pipe in a rotating mandrel bar so as to permit movement of the same relative thereto whereby the cooling pipe is maintained substantially centrally of the mandrel bar at all times.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved means for assembling a cooling pipe in rotating mandrel bars by which the cooling pipe caneasily and conveniently be replaced in a relatively short time.

' It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved means for assembling and supporting a cooling pipe within rotating mandrel bars which is rugged and strong and, at the same time, simple and inexpensive in its construction.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown, for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings: v Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a mandrel bar assembly showing the improved cooling means of my invention incorporated therewith;

, Figure 2is a similar, enlarged section of the inner end of the assembly as shown in Figure 1, showing more fully the details of the improved cooling means of my invention;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line IIIIIl of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a section taken on line V-V of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration merely the inner end structure of a conventional type of piercing or reeling apparatus as used in the manufacture of pipe and other tubular articles, which apparatus is Well known to those skilled in the art, and with which the improved cooling means of the present invention is shown incorporated. Such apparatus consists generally of a cylindricalhousing 2 disposed in a movable carriage or thrust block 3. There is arranged adjacent the inner end of the housing 2 and around the periphery thereof, a threaded portion 4 which cooperates with a similar threaded portion arranged on the inner wall of the carriage 3 so as to securely position the same therein and to provide a means for adjusting the same rela* tive to the housing. There is disposed axially of the cylindrical housing 2, a rotatable hollow spindle 5 which is mounted in suitable bearings 6 carried by the housing. There is suitably arranged on the forward or outer end of the spindle 5 beyond the housing 2, in a well known manner, a hollow mandrel bar 7 having a mandrel bar cap 8 disposed in the extreme outer end thereof with a mandrel plug or point 9 carried thereby.

According to the present invention, as more fully shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, there is arranged on the inner end of the rotatable spindle 5, a supporting member M which is preferably attached to a spindle nut l2 by means of cap screws l3 extending through holes l4 arranged concentrically through and around a flange l5 of the supporting member Hi. There is positioned within each of the holes 14, a bushing or buffer member i5 which is made preferably from a yieldable material, such as rubber and the like. Each of the cap screws l3 preferably has a body or unthreaded portion ll of such length that there is provided a space l8 between the head I9 thereof and the outer face of the flange i 5 of the supporting member it, as shown in Figure 2, so as to permit the supporting member IE! to move relative to the spindle 5 and the mandrel bar I carried thereby.

There is arranged, through the supporting member ill, an axial opening 23, in which there is loosely and removably disposed a longitudinally extending cooling fluid conveying pipe 2! which extends through the spindle 5 into the mandrel bar I and terminates a short distance from the extreme outer end thereof. On the inner end of the cooling pipe 2!, there is arranged preferably a slotted opening or keyway 22 in which an elongated key 23, securely carried by the supporting member it in the axial opening thereof, is adapted to be disposed so that the cooling fluid pipe will be rotated thereby when the spindle, together with the mandrel bar and supporting member carried thereby, rotates. The inner end of the axial opening 20 in the supporting member is preferably counterbored as at 24, and there is disposed therein an annular U-shaped gasket 25 preferably made of a yieldable material, such as rubber and the like, which fits tightly around the exterior of the cooling fluid pipe 2| so as to prevent leakage of the cooling fluid from between the cooling pipe and the supporting member. On the inner end of the supporting member in, there is disposed preferably a plurality of outwardly extending lugs 25 which fit into recesses 2! arranged in the inner end of the spindle 5 whereby the supporting member is positively rotated by the spindle upon rotation thereof. There is arranged around and extending through the flange 55 of the supporting member 50, a plurality of openings or passageways 28 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. It will be understood that the outer diameter of the cooling fluid conveying pipe 2! is substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the axial opening 20 through both the spindle 5 and the mandrel bar 1 so as to provide a space therebetween.

There is positioned, adjacent the inner end of the spindle 5, a stufiing box 29 in which an outwardly extending cylindrical portion 30 of the supporting member H) is rotatably disposed. There is mounted within the stufilng box, preferably, a bushing-like member or adapter 3! having an enlarged or counter-bored portion 32 so as to provide a space around the outwardly extending portion 30 of the supporting member.

There is positioned in the counter-bored portion 32, preferably a plurality of gaskets or packing members 33, three in the present instance, preferably made from a yieldable material such as rubber and the like, and which have, preferably, a U-shaped cross-section. The gaskets 33 are held in position therein, preferably by means of an annular bracket or gland-like member 34 which is held in engagement with the body of the stufiing box 29, preferably by means of stud bolts 35. It will be understood that the gaskets 33 fit tightly around the exterior surface of the outwardly extending portion 30 of the supporting member and that it is the purpose of the same to prevent leakage of the cooling fluid from between the supporting member and the stuffing box. The inner surfaces of both the gland member 34 and the bushing-like member 3! are preferably lined with an oilless bushing 32a where the same contact the outer surface of the outwardly extending portion 30 of the supporting member H), which bushings are adapted to act as bearings therefor.

There is arranged within the stuffing box 23, an opening or passageway 35 which extends from an inlet connection 3'! to the inner end of the axial opening Eli and the cooling fluid pipe 2! carried thereby. There is provided preferably an inlet pipe 33, or other suitable fluid conveying means, having one end thereof connected to the inlet connection 37 of passageway with the opposite end thereof connected to a suitable source of cooling fluid supply (not shown). The inlet pipe 38 is preferably supported by means of a clamp or bracket 39 arranged on the inner end of the housing 2.

It will be understood that when in operation the mandrel bar I, the spindle 5, together with the supportin member Ill, and the fluid conveying pipe 2! carried thereby revolve and that the cooling fluid, usually water, is continually introduced into the passageway 3'8 in the stuffing box 29 by means of the inlet pipe 33 and passes through the axial opening 2!) in the supporting member ID into and through the conveying pipe 2i into the interior of the mandrel bar I to cool the same. The water or cooling fluid then flows back on the outer side of the cooling fluid pipe 21 in the space between the cooling pipe and the mandrel bar through the spindle 5 and out through the openings or passageways 28 in the flange l5 of the supporting member iii to a suitable drain or other fluid discharge-receiving means.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided not only a construction whereby the cooling fluid pipe can be easily and quickly replaced, should it be necessary, but a construction wherein the cooling pipe is permitted to move relative to the mandrel bar and spindle, thereby eliminating the danger of breakage thereof. Furthermore, it will be seen there is provided a construction wherein the cooling fluid pipe supporting member is yieldably mounted so as to permit relative movement between this member and the spindle so as to prevent breakage of the same, as well as the cooling fluid pipe.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for supplying a fluid to the interior of a rotatable hollow mandrel bar for cooling the same including, in combination, a supporting member attached to the end of the mandrel bar, a fluid conveying pipe carried by said supporting member and extending into said mandrel bar, means movably connecting said pipe to said supporting member so that the pipe is movable relative to the supporting member during the rotation thereof, and means arranged with said supporting member for supplying a cooling fluid into and through said pipe into said mandrel bar.

2. Means for supplying a cooling fluid to the interior of a rotatable hollow mandrel bar including, in combination, an annular supporting member, yieldable means connecting said annular supporting member to the end of said mandrel bar, a longitudinally extending fluid conveying pipe carried by and arranged through said annular supporting member. and extending into said mandrel bar with which it is adapted to rotate, means for removably connecting said pipe to said supporting member whereby the same is movable relative thereto during the rotation thereof, and means arranged with said annular supporting member for supplying a cooling fluid therethrough into and through the pipe carried thereby into said mandrel bar.

3. Means for supplying a cooling fluid to the interior of a rotatable hollow mandrel bar including, in combination, a flange-like supporting member having an axial opening arranged therethrough with the flange portion thereof having a plurality of holes arranged therearound, a bushing made from a yieldable material disposed in each of said holes carried by the flange portion of said supporting member, a cap screw arranged through each of the holes and the bushings arranged therein for attaching the supporting member to the outer end of the mandrel bar, whereby the supporting member is yieldably attached to the end of said mandrel bar, a longitudinally extending fluid conveying pipe removably carried by said supporting member and extending into said mandrel bar, said pipe extending into the axial opening of said supporting member and being loosely keyed thereto and adapted to rotate therewith, and stationary means arranged at the outer end of said supporting member for supplying a cooling fluid through the axial opening thereof into and through the pipe carried thereby into the mandrel bar.

4. Means for supplying a cooling fluid to the interior of a rotatable hollow mandrel bar including, in combination, a flange-like supporting member having an axial opening arranged therethrough with the flange portion thereof having a plurality of holes arranged therearound, a bushing made from a yieldable material disposed in each of said holes carried by the flange portion of said supporting member, a cap screw arranged through each of the holes and the bushings arranged therein for attaching the supporting member to the outer end of the mandrel bar whereby the supporting member is yieldably attached to the end of said mandrel bar, a longitudinally extending fluid conveying pipe removably carried by said supporting member and extending into said mandrel bar, said pipe extending into the axial opening of said supporting member and being loosely keyed thereto and adapted to rotate therewith, yieldable packing means arranged around said pipe between the same and the said supporting member adjacent the inner end thereof, and similar yieldable packing means arranged around said supporting member between the same and said stationary fluid supply means adjacent the outer end of said supporting means whereby a slight degree of yieldableness is provided so as to permit the fluid conveying pipe to move relative to the supporting member and the supporting member to move relative to said mandrel bar.

5. Means for supplying a cooling fluid to the interior of a rotatable hollow mandrel bar including, in combination, a flange-like supporting member having an axial opening arranged therethrough with the flange portion thereof having a plurality of holes arranged therearound, a bushing made from a yieldable material disposed in each of said holes carried by the flange portion of said supporting member, a cap screw arranged through each of the holes and the bushings arranged therein for attaching the supporting member to the outer end of the mandrel bar whereby the supporting member is yieldably attached to the end of said mandrel bar, a longitudinally extending fluid conveying pipe removably carried by said supporting member and extending into said mandrel bar, said pipe extending into the axial opening of said supporting member and being loosely keyed thereto and adapted to rotate therewith, yieldable packing means arranged around said pipe between the same and said supporting member adjacent the inner end thereof for preventing leakage of the cooling fluid around said pipe, a stationary stufiing box disposed around the outer end of said supporting member having an opening therein communicating with the end of the axial opening in said supporting member, a similar yieldable packing means arranged around said supporting member between the same and said stufling box to seal the end of the supporting member against leakage.

6. Means for supplying a fluid to the interior of a rotatable hollow mandrel bar including, in combination, a flange-like supporting member having a plurality of openings concentrically arranged therearound through the flange thereof, a cap screw arranged in each of the openings in said supporting member for connecting the same to the end of said mandrel bar, yieldable means arranged in each of the openings in said supporting member around the cap screw therein so that the supporting member is yieldably supported by the said mandrel bar and movable relative thereto, and means arranged with said supporting member for supplying and conveying a cooling fluid therethrough into said mandrel bar.

7. Means for supplying a fluid to the interior of a rotatable hollow mandrel bar including, in combination, a flange-like supporting member having a plurality of openings concentrically arranged therearound through the flange thereof, a cap screw arranged in each of the openings in said supporting member for connecting the same to the end of said mandrel bar, yieldable means arranged in each of the openings in said supporting member around the cap screw therein so that the supporting member is yieldably supported by the said mandrel bar and movable relative thereto, a fluid conveying pipe carried by said supporting member and extending into said mandrel bar, and means arranged with said supporting member for supplying a cooling fluid into and through said pipe into said mandrel bar.

HARRY OTTINGER. 

